CAMDEN, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University men's soccer team set what is believed to be an NCAA record by reaching overtime for the fifth consecutive game to open the season, but Drew University took advantage of a missed clear three minutes into the first extra period and edged NJCU, 2-1, on day two of the Cialella Soccer Classic, hosted by 2013 NCAA Division III national runner-up Rutgers University-Camden.
 
NJCU (1-2-2)'s five overtimes are one shy of equaling the single-season record of six set in 1984 and matched in 1985 for the most in a season in the 56-year history of the program. The Gothic Knights are one overtime shy of the known NCAA mark of six consecutive overtimes by Division I San Diego State in 2009.
 
Drew (2-2-0), facing the Knights for only the second time ever despite the close proximity of the schools, outshot NJCU 12-3 in the first half and 3-1 in overtime to finish with a 23-15 advantage. Drew held a decisive edge on corner kicks, 13-1. The Knights had 11 of their 15 shots in the second half, including four in the final three minutes of regulation.
 
All-New Jersey Athletic Conference junior midfielder Aboubacar Diawara (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) scored a game-tying goal in the 56^th minute after Drew went ahead at the end of the 40^th minute. Diawara and sophomore back Gabriel Freitas (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) each earned All-Tournament Team nods from NJCU.
 
Disney Soccer/NSCAA Division III National Player of the Week and converted junior goalkeeper Tyler Krychkowski (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) made nine saves in 92:56 to keep the Knights in the game. Michael Reyes stopped eight shots for Drew.
 

On Drew's 12^th shot of the first half, the Rangers finally got on the board as Daniel Giraldo was able to settle a corner kick from Benjamin Audi outside the top of the box and when the NJCU defense didn't react quickly enough to the set piece, buried a shot into the left side of the net.
 
Diawara, who has scored three of NJCU's four goals this season, evened it at the 55:24 mark. Freshman midfielder Benedict Adundo (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) earned his first NCAA assist and point when he played a pass forward to Diawara who muscled a center back off the ball and buried a shot on a breakaway from eight yards out.
 

Most Overtime Games, By Season
YEAR	# of OVERTIME GAMES PLAYED
1985	6
1984	6
2014	5
1999	5

NJCU had the better of play in the second half and had several chances to win it in the final moments of regulation. A breakaway by Diawara was stopped by Reyes at 87:12. Then in the final 40 seconds, freshman forward Luis Cruz (Princeton, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) had back-to-back shots blocked by Reyes when he and Adundo crashed the net. Cruz again had a chance to win it saved by Reyes at the 92:29 mark.
 
Just 27 seconds later Drew would win it. Audi, who was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Reyes, got to a missed clear and his shot from the left side beat Krychkowski to the far right back post at 92:56.
 
Diawara and Cruz each finished with four shots and three on goal for NJCU.
 
"In the first half they were very good," third-year head coach Patrick Snyder said of the Rangers. "In the second half, we played much better. We are finally playing soccer with a defensive mind set. We are getting where we want to be when we go forward. Today we created some chances."
 
NJCU will next face Baruch College on Wednesday, September 10 at 5:30 p.m. in a non-conference tilt in Maspeth, NY.